Leon Rebello
McPherson · Liberal National Party · Australia
“But it's becoming really frightening when there is nowhere else to go if i can no longer afford rent and health care too. Another person said: As a still working, self funded semi retiree (73years) old, I feel disillusioned and disgusted by our current govt, who seem to be hell bent on removing any incentive to be a self sufficient, hard…”
“I'm going to read out some of the comments that ordinary Australians in the 65-plus category have sent to me and give them a voice in this place, because those on the opposite side of this parliament are prepared to go against them. I quote one person: 'That's a joke, Leon. We currently struggle to maintain existing low cover.”
“A lot of them are hanging on by the skin of their teeth financially, when they need their insurance the most and after paying premiums for years with minimal claims. Labour will pay the price if they mess with older Australians … Another person said: So this is over $1200 for the two of us.”
“We received over 2,000 responses to those surveys, and most of the responses focused on the fact that these are older Australians who have worked for this country, who have done the right thing for so many years, and now they're finding themselves in a really difficult spot as a result of this government's characterisation of them.”
“And I say to those opposite, the ones who have contributed to this debate and those who are sitting in the chamber today or watching, you should really look at yourself and look at the content of what we're saying, because this is about your parents, it's about your grandparents and it's about people that you represent, or are supposed to…”
“I commend my friend and colleague the member for Gippsland for moving this motion in relation to the government's failure to govern for older Australians. I am livid.”
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“Their proposal involved a dissolvable, seed-like micro tablet delivering Pseudomonas fluorescens to hasten algal decomposition, with an oxygen-releasing element to guard against oxygen depletion. Other exhibitions were also strong, and covered issues like ebike safety and urban planning. I thank the teachers, staff and families for nurturing such strong student curiosity and critical thinking, and to these dedicated students I say: 'Continue to think outside the box. Test limits and never lose your commitment to making the world a better place. The future looks bright with young leaders like you.'”
“I recently had the privilege of visiting St Andrews Lutheran College to attend their IB Primary Years Program exhibition. Working in small groups, these year 6 students investigated real-world issues affecting Australians, and presented thoughtful, creative and innovative solutions. One standout was a team tackling South Australia's algal bloom challenge. Sam, Rosie and Lyla, three passionate and impressive young scientists, presented 'BloomGuard', a creative science based concept to accelerate the breakdown of harmful algae while protecting aquatic life. Their proposal was developed over nine weeks, under the guidance of a marine biologist and senior science teachers to test assumptions, refine their design and ground their curiosity in evidence.”
“What does that mean? It means that, for each of us here, every 60 seconds—it looks like the power prices have gone up too much for this place as well!”
“The Albanese Labor government has failed on a number of fronts, particularly on the economy, the cost of living, health and defence—just to name a few items on this terrible scorecard. In relation to the economy and government spending, we've seen spending balloon to 27 per cent of GDP, with revenue limping along at 25.5 per cent. Aside from a temporary spike during the global pandemic, that means that government expenditure is at its highest levels since the Second World War. When I came to this place and delivered my maiden speech, I spoke about the fact that we want to make sure that government doesn't leave a burden for its future generations. We've seen the gap alone adding $40 billion a year to the national credit card. We're seeing debt over a trillion dollars; it will be $1.2 trillion at the time of the next election.”
“It's telling that it's at the top of the priority list of those opposite to move motions in this place which pat them on the back and congratulate them on their time here as the government for the last six months. As the federal member for McPherson, I'd like to start by saying that six months is quite the milestone since the last election, and I thank the people of McPherson for giving me the opportunity to represent them in this place. It's an honour that I never take for granted. But, in light of the motion that we're seeing here today, it also reminds us of the six-month record of this Albanese Labor government. It's a record that the Australian people can see is not good.”
“For generations, Australians have believed that if you worked hard, saved carefully and contributed to your community you could own a home and, therefore, a stake in your economy and your country. But that social contract is breaking. Instead of enabling Australians to build their own future, Labor continues to fuel dependency. We must restore government as an enabler not a provider, a partner in people's ambition not a replacement for it. We must restore the great Australian dream of homeownership, because a government that cannot house its people is a government that has lost its way.”
“Labor's policy helps no-one except the banks, the unions and super funds all lining up for a share of taxpayer backed housing debt. No discussion of housing under this government can ignore the elephant on the building site: the criminal and corrupt CFMEU. This union has been allowed to run rampant across construction sites, driving up apartment prices by as much as 30 per cent. It's unconscionable that taxpayer money is being funnelled through this fund to enrich the same union whose conduct has driven so many builders to the wall. The coalition's bill before the Senate would ban the HAFF investments tied to the CFMEU's financial arms. If Labor were serious about integrity and housing, they would support it.”
“As the housing crisis deepens, the minister hides a $24,000 report into bullying and mismanagement at Housing Australia, one that Treasury admits exists but refuses to release. This is a government that's addicted to secrecy, allergic to accountability and incapable of delivery. Labor's reckless expansion of the Home Guarantee Scheme is another example of good intentions, bad economics and worse governance. The coalition created this scheme to help low-income Australians with small deposits. It was a targeted, sensible policy. Labor has turned it into a $60 billion uncapped, non-means-tested, free-for-all system not targeted to those who need it. The Reserve Bank governor has already confirmed the obvious. This will push up house prices and leave first home buyers with larger mortgages.”
“Labor know the key to increasing housing supply is through deregulating the industry, but instead they bow down to their union mates to pile on 5,000 new regulations and 400 new laws—nearly 3,000 pages of construction codes. They smother builders in paperwork and then wonder why fewer homes are being built. We've seen an historic collapse in building completion, with close to 200,000 homes built each year under the coalition compared to the barely 170,000 today under Labor. At the same time as construction has fallen, Labor has presided over the biggest population surge since the 1950s, driving up demand while strangling supply through red tape and poor policy design. What's the result? Families in my electorate are paying more, they're waiting longer and they're falling further behind.”
“Labor's flagship housing policy, the Housing Australia Future Fund, is one of the greatest public policy failures of our time. Ten billion dollars of taxpayer money is tied up in a fund, yet no member of the government was willing or able to tell us how many homes it's actually built. At Senate estimates, we discovered that Labor is not even building homes; they're buying homes. You can't make this up. The government is competing with its own people to buy up existing supply, driving up prices. Australians don't need their government bidding against them at weekend auctions; they need their government building more homes. Nearly $60 billion of taxpayer money has been poured into housing schemes that are failing to deliver results. Labor are spending more, building less and blaming everybody but themselves.”
“I rise to support this motion because the Australian dream of homeownership is slipping further out of reach under this government. Labor's appalling housing failures are all the proof you need to see that they have no idea what they're doing on housing or the economy more broadly. Labor talk a big game on housing, but the reality is that their backwards policies are in fact taking away from supply and driving up property prices, further disadvantaging first home buyers. In just three years, the government has presided over the biggest boom in Australia's population since the 1950s while overseeing an historic housing construction collapse. Despite their $60 billion housing investment, they're spending more than ever to deliver fewer homes than the previous coalition government.”
“Thank you, especially, to the Robina Lions, who put on the great barbecue dinner; local Burleigh business Mr. Consistent, who generously supported the event with their delicious mocktails; and Tarnya Khouri and the McPherson Community Connect team, who volunteered their time and energy. Together we are building a stronger, more connected McPherson—one act of service at a time.”
“I'd like to place on the record the names of this year's category awardees: Community Organisation of the Year—Tugun Girl Guides, for their valuable programs for girls and young women; Community Safety Award—Trevor Taylor, who runs the Robina neighbourhood watch; Educator of the Year—John Costigan, who has made significant contributions in the area of training and education through the Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club; Environmental Champion Award—Maria Bonnett from Varsity Lakes, who established Save Our Swans Gold Coast, with over 1,300 community members now caring for the swans of the Gold Coast waterways; Local Hero Award—Wayne Holmes of I Love Robina, a dedicated member of the southern Gold Coast community who helps with several charities and community support initiatives; Service Club of the Year—Currumbin RSL, who represent the gold standard of what community organisation should be; Small Business of the Year—Blackboard Varsity, where Dan, Nicole and the team bring the Varsity community together for some of the best coffee and hash browns on the coast; Employee of the Year—Carly Donkelaar, for her commitment and work ethic at the Lash Spa in Varsity Lakes; Employer of the Year—Melissa Bergen, also from the Lash Spa, who creates an incredibly welcoming environment for her employees and customers; Spirit of McPherson Award—Kath Koch from the Rotary Club of Burleigh Heads, for her work with the Rotary Youth Exchange program; Sporting Club of the Year—Varsity Vipers Basketball, who represent the essence of grassroots sport; Surf Lifesaver of the Year—Will Barwick from Bilinga Surf Life Saving Club, for his positive energy and eagerness to get involved in all aspects of surf lifesaving; Volunteer of the Year—Ian Sarow from the Currumbin Woodwork and Craft Club, which is also known as the Men's Shed; and the Youth Leadership Award—Mia Gillies, who, despite being too young to join, at 13, is a friend of the Lions in Burleigh Heads and volunteers at every opportunity.”
“When I launched my inaugural McPherson Honours Awards, I did so to recognise the everyday people who make an extraordinary difference in our community—those who volunteer, lead and lend a hand not for praise or recognition but because they understand that an act of kindness, no matter how large or small, can change lives. This year we received more than 150 nominations from right across the southern Gold Coast. With every nomination, I was blown away by the compassion, generosity and spirit of service that runs so deep through our community. Each story reminded me that the heart of McPherson beats strongest through its people—those who serve not for noise but for impact.”
“Australians know the difference between a government that manages and a government that spends. They also know there is nothing compassionate about policies that keep rates higher for longer, hollow out savings and leave the bill for the next generation. I support this motion because when Labor spends, you pay. The coalition will deliver discipline, lower taxes and stronger growth so that Australians can thrive. That is our promise, and that should be the government's promise as well.”
“On behalf of my community, I plead with the government to restore the quantifiable fiscal rules that every government of either persuasion has adopted and heed the warnings of leading economists. Their track record should be an indication that clear rules and real restraint are critical, now more than ever. Stop the waste, curb the debt, and ease cost-of-living pressures. But fiscal rules are only half the job. We must start growing the economic pie and Australians' slice. That means a pro-productivity agenda; cutting red tape that is smothering builders, innovators and exporters; restoring ambition to business; and delivering permanent income tax relief so that work is rewarded. In short, get government out of the way so that Australians can get ahead. That is the coalition's instinct and record.”
“First, they ditched the rule book and reached for your wallet when they floated their tax on unrealised gains in super, opening the door to taxing theoretical profits because they're desperate to feed their spending habit. This wasn't just poor policy; it crossed a line and set a dangerous precedent that spooked savers and retirees. A government that cannot live within its means will always go looking for new ways to live within yours. It's not just the size of spending; it's the quality. Despite the splurge, growth hasn't improved. My constituents in McPherson feel no better off, and Australia has endured multiple quarters of per capita recession. In failing to rein in its spending, Labor is betraying the young Australians who will be left to service an ever-expanding debt.”
“Treasury officials have confirmed there are no quantifiable fiscal rules guiding Labor's budgets—no speed limit; no seatbelts; just a blank cheque and a Treasurer who thinks budgetary discipline is optional. Since coming to office, Labor has added $100 billion to the national debt, on track to breach $1 trillion this financial year and $1.2 trillion by the time of the next election. Every minute, $50,000 of taxpayers' money is burnt just on interest. That's $72 million every single day that isn't being spent on essential services. Labor's spending binge has worked against the RBA, kept inflation sticky and rendered rate cuts impossible. Markets now fear it may be 'one and done' on cuts, with rates remaining elevated for longer. When Labor spends, Australians pay.”
“I rise to support the motion moved by the member for Casey to condemn this government's reckless and out-of-control spending. This government's economic philosophy more closely resembles that of a gambler on a losing streak than a prudent steward of our nation's finances. Government spending must be targeted, effective and efficient. Labor continues to act entirely out of self-interest, piling on debt with no regard for the generations to come, who will ultimately foot the bill. Under Labor, spending has blown out from 24 per cent to 27 per cent of GDP, the highest level outside a recession in nearly 40 years. Labor has taken a blowtorch to the fiscal guardrails that every responsible government of either persuasion has used and respected for decades.”
“From the local band that performs each week to the free coffee and barbecue that bring everyone together, these Fridays are clearly a highlight for many. It also means the world to its volunteers. While volunteerism has declined nationally since COVID, Beached @ Burleigh has seen its volunteer numbers grow—a testament to the strength, compassion and community spirit that defines this remarkable group. Congratulations and thank you to Beached @ Burleigh and your incredible volunteers for all you do to lift up our community each and every week.”
“Earlier this month I held my inaugural McPherson Honours, a celebration of locals who give so much to our community. One of this year's remarkable finalists was Beached @ Burleigh, at Burleigh Heads Church of Christ. After learning about their incredible work, I was honoured to join one of their outreach Fridays and see it all in action. What I witnessed was truly inspiring—not only the practical support they provide, but the powerful sense of belonging they create for people doing it tough. Each Friday, Beached @ Burleigh offers free food parcels, basic groceries, a laundry service in partnership with Orange Sky, and op shop vouchers to locals in need. But what makes them special is the community they have built. People might come for the support, but they stay for the connection.”
“Compared to the previous coalition government, youth detention is up 11 per cent, suicide is up 9.4 per cent, adult incarceration is up 3.5 per cent, preschool attendance is down 2.6 per cent and 1.2 per cent fewer children are commencing school developmentally on track. Will the Albanese government commit to focusing on tangible outcomes for Indigenous Australians so that, together, we can close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage?”
“Senator Liddle, with her own background working in and supporting Indigenous businesses, will be shining a spotlight on the government's actions, ensuring economic empowerment is grounded in business and growth, creating real jobs, and devoid of symbolism. The evidence in the July 2025 Closing the Gap data report paints a stark picture of no meaningful change. Four targets—already going backwards—continue to worsen: adult incarceration, children commencing school developmentally on track, children in out-of-home care and suicide. Of the 19 targets, just four are on track—one less than last year.”
“When he turned up at the Garma festival in East Arnhem Land in August, the PM even used his speaking notes from the year before, on economic empowerment, and dodged taking any questions from the press before jetting back out. Let me be clear. We value the Indigenous-led business sector, which contributed more than $16 billion to the national economy in 2022. However, on economic empowerment, the Prime Minister is bringing together service providers and advocates, rather than business and enterprise. As the CEO of the NT Indigenous Business Network wrote in an opinion piece last week: … let's be clear: on what planet do we think Blak economic development can happen … The coalition will hold the government to account on its economic empowerment plan, led by our shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Kerrynne Liddle.”
“According to the Australian National Audit Office, only one in five government contracts is monitored for compliance with the Indigenous Procurement Policy, and only a quarter of those are compliant. Australians have been hit with a $730,000 bill for the First Nations ambassador's travel expenses across just two years. The Prime Minister is spending millions of dollars of taxpayer money, and what does he have to show for it? Zero accountability, zero outcomes and zero improvement for the lives of Indigenous Australians. Will the Albanese government commit to the highest standards for funding organisations which deliver the services Indigenous Australians need? Will the Albanese government commit to restoring the Senate estimates hearing for cross-portfolio Indigenous matters for the remainder of this term?”
“The Albanese government allowed alcohol restrictions to lapse in the Northern Territory in 2023, unleashing havoc on Central Australia and requiring millions in expenditure to respond to it. Labor fuelled access to alcohol, drugs and gambling through the removal of the cashless debit card in 2022. The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations database reveals that, as at 4 October, 1,162 Indigenous organisations—many of which received Commonwealth funding—have failed to fulfil their reporting requirements for the 2023-24 financial year. Despite these concerns, the registrar has downplayed the issue. The government has failed to consistently enforce mandatory minimum requirements under the Indigenous Procurement Policy for government contracts.”
“In Labor's fourth year of government, a distracted Anthony Albanese has failed to deliver for Indigenous Australians. Labor is dodging accountability when it comes to practical support for Indigenous Australians, and, for the first time in 17 years, Labor is deliberately evading the scrutiny of a standalone Senate estimates hearing for cross-portfolio Indigenous matters. Aided and abetted by the Greens, the decision to cancel the cross-portfolio sittings for both Indigenous matters and Murray-Darling plan matters speaks to the hubris that Labor now displays. It has actively undermined transparency and accountability in the areas where Australians deserve the highest standards of both. The $300 million Better, Safer Future for Central Australia plan has made Central Australia neither better nor safer.”
“I'm delighted to welcome founders Nik Mirkovic and Alex Tomic and Head of Operations Steve Mahoney, who are here in the gallery today, and recognise their incredible contribution to both our local economy in McPherson and Australia's global reputation for innovation. Stories like theirs remind us that the Gold Coast isn't just a place of natural beauty; it's a hub of talent, creativity and enterprise. I'd like to see our government supporting Australian innovation such as theirs because, when we stand up for Australian entrepreneurs, we stand up for Australia's future jobs, industry and prosperity.”
“Today I rise to celebrate a remarkable Gold Coast success story: Hismile, a homegrown business that has become a global leader in its field. From humble beginnings right at Burleigh Heads, Hismile now employs more than 120 Australians and exports to more than 140 countries around the world. Built on a foundation of research, innovation and a deep understanding of their customers, Hismile has shown that Australian businesses can compete and thrive on the world stage. Their commitment to quality and continuous improvement has made them a shining example of what's possible when ambition meets opportunity.”
“Finally, with our growing population, transport infrastructure remains a key focus. I recently met with Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads to push two major priorities: fixing the Robina exit 82 bottleneck and delivering a heavy-rail extension from Varsity Lakes to Gold Coast Airport—essential connections for our southern Gold Coast community. These are important projects, and I will continue to advocate across all levels of government to see their advancement. Our region continues to grow, but it's the heart connection and collaboration of our community that make McPherson what it is.”
“In Robina I visited the Barber Academy and the Hair Academy Australia, where founders Dee Thomas and Gareth Philpott are revolutionising vocational training. Under the supervision of their award-winning team, students gain real-world experience, confidence and qualifications that lead to employment, and many even go on to start their own business. Their success highlights the importance of supporting innovative, private education models alongside traditional TAFE pathways. As we head into Queensland's subtropical wet season, this week's Get Ready Queensland Week is an important reminder that preparation makes a world of difference in emergencies. My thanks to the Varsity Lakes Community Resource Centre for hosting their recent Prep Your Kit day, helping locals plan ahead.”
“From the sporting clubs to the law society and even the anaesthetics association, I was blown away by the breadth of student engagement and was left confident that McPherson's next generation is in good hands. The Coolangatta Bowls Club celebrated the opening of a new shade structure, the perfect place to relax after a summer game. It was fantastic to join club members and the broader community for the opening. It will add great value to the Coolangatta community. I was also glad to join the Palm Beach Currumbin Cricket Club for their 2025-26 season launch. I'm always impressed to see the strong support behind the players and the volunteers who make our local sport thrive. I look forward to seeing the teams' success throughout the season ahead.”
“Each day I grow more appreciative of the strength and spirit of our southern Gold Coast community. In recent weeks I've met hundreds of locals, dozens of small businesses and many dedicated community groups. We've celebrated milestones and come together for special occasions, and I've been proud to lend an ear or a hand when needed. I recently joined Burleigh in Pink, where our community united to raise awareness and vital funds for breast cancer research. The participation and generosity shown by so many locals was moving. We all know someone whose life has been touched by breast cancer. Behind every person in attendance that day was a story of love, loss and hope for a future free from this horrible disease. At Bond University's O-week I met the newest cohort of students—young people full of ideas, ambition and optimism.”
“When your allies see hesitation, they question your conviction. And when your adversaries see hesitation, they test it. The story of this government's foreign policy is not one of strategy or strength. It's a story of drift, confusion, delay and misplaced priorities. At every turn, they have chosen symbolism over substance and weakness over principle. And so I ask: when will Labor place Australia's interest at the heart of our foreign policy?”
“This disgraceful oversight saw Australian consumers unwittingly help bankroll aggression against a sovereign democracy, every litre a blow against the free world and this government's delay a stain on our moral clarity. Our relationship with China must be one of strength—firm, respectful and clear eyed. Yet, when a former Albanese aligned Labor premier attended a Chinese Communist Party military parade, standing alongside Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, this government said nothing. Why the silence? Did the government or the PM warn Mr Andrews not to attend? China is a vital partner but also a strategic competitor. With Chinese military activity increasing near our shores, why has the government said nothing? Why hasn't there been a statement of reassurance to the Australian people or to our Pacific partners?”
“The coalition-led Senate committee warned in early 2023 to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. Why did the government ignore that warning, and how many Australians were put at risk in the meantime? Only after threats intensified and antisemitic violence spread did they act. They did the right thing, but far too late. In matters of national security, hesitation is not caution; it's weakness. And then there's Russia. While Putin wages his brutal war on Ukraine, Australians unknowingly fill their cars with fuel refined from Russian crude—$3.7 billion worth, generating over $2 billion in tax revenue for the Kremlin's war machine. How could this government allow such a loophole?”
“Did the Foreign minister consult our allies before breaking with decades of bipartisan wisdom? We all want the suffering in Gaza to end, but peace cannot be built on the foundation of terror. Meanwhile, our most important alliance, with the United States, drifts like a ship without a captain. For nearly a year the Prime Minister could not secure a substantive meeting with the president. What did we get instead? A selfie. No plan, no policy, no progress. I ask: what message does it send when our closest ally cannot find a moment for the Australian prime minister? While the cameras flashed, Australian industries were left to fend for themselves against tariffs on pharmaceuticals, copper and film. And when it came to Iran, the government's delay was dangerous.”
“In recognising a Palestinian state outside a proper peace process, the Albanese government broke a longstanding bipartisan position grounded in common sense: recognition must follow peace, not precede it. And who celebrated this decision? Hamas, a listed terrorist organisation responsible for the horrors of 7 October, including the murder, rape and kidnapping of men, women and children. The fact that Australia's foreign policy is being applauded by terrorists is a damning indictment of the government's judgement. Did the Prime Minister consider how such a move would embolden extremists and undermine peace? While our allies work to end the war and secure the release of hostages, the Prime Minister drew moral equivalence between a democracy defending itself and a terror movement sworn to its destruction.”
“There was a time when Australia's voice on the world stage was steady and clear. We stood for peace built on strength, principle, mateship with our allies, and decency towards those who shared our values. Today that voice has grown uncertain, and our nation feels smaller for it. Across the world, the lights of democracy are flickering. A terrorist movement slaughters innocents in the Middle East, an autocrat wages a brutal war in Europe, and in the Pacific our region grows more contested by the day. And when clarity is needed most Australia's foreign policy has lost its compass. It began with the decision that defied reason and betrayed principle.”
“The summit will convene diverse voices, Indigenous leaders, interfaith partners, multicultural organisations, human rights advocates and civic leaders from across the political spectrum. This is not about foreign agendas; it's about Australian communities, Australian safety and Australian decency. Our constituents expect us to reject hate and strengthen inclusion. That is exactly what this summit is designed to do. I'd like to close by thanking Eli for his courage—his absolute courage—in sharing his story. Let us take on his pleas to confront antisemitism wherever it surfaces.”
“He urged this parliament to stand up, speak plainly and act, to call out antisemitism wherever it appears, to press for the release of every hostage and to ensure that aid reaches civilians rather than the terrorists who starved him. His appeal was simple: moral clarity backed by practical action. That is why tomorrow I will proudly attend the Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism. Its purpose is straightforward: to tackle the rising threat of antisemitism in our suburbs, our streets and our schools. This summit matters because it's focused on unity, not division. Antisemitism, like every form of racism, threatens the safety and cohesion of all Australians.”
“You dismantle the pipeline before you hand out the prize of statehood. Against that grim reality abroad, there is a related and shameful reality at home. Antisemitism is rising in Australia. We see it in hateful graffiti on synagogues and cemeteries, in Jewish schools forced into lockdowns, in students and staff harassed on campuses, in small businesses targeted and families intimidated on public transport. Too many Jewish Australians tell us they're scared to display their faith, hiding school uniforms and thinking twice before attending community events. No Australian should have to choose between their safety and their identity. During Eli's meeting with us this week, he did not ask us for pity. He asked for leadership.”
“We will not recognise a state that hasn't arisen from a credible two-state process with enforceable security arrangements, and we will not recognise a state that refuses to live in peace with Israel. That is not hardline; that is the minimal foundation for a durable peace. Those opposite say recognition of a Palestinian state will leave no room for Hamas. How? What happens when Hamas refuses, or when a successor militia fills the vacuum? If recognition is conditional, state the conditions and who verifies them. If it's unconditional, admit it and own the consequences. When Eli spoke with us, he described begging for scraps while Hamas consumed the aid. That is not a logistics hiccup; it is a governance reality. You don't fix a terror pipeline with a press conference in Canberra.”
“Instead, the Albanese government has sprinted towards recognition of a Palestinian state outside a genuine peace process, while hostages remain in tunnels and while a listed terrorist organisation still wields power and steals aid. This is reckless recognition, symbolism over statecraft. It signals to the world that terror and intransigence can be traded for diplomatic rewards. When terrorists cheer your foreign policy, a responsible prime minister would hit the brakes. Those opposite have slammed their foot on the accelerator. The coalition's position is simple and principled. We want the hostages released, Gazans fed and the war ended. We will not recognise a Palestinian state while hostages are still being held. We will not recognise a state governed, formally or informally, by Hamas.”
“Earlier this week, I met an Israeli hostage who endured horrors whilst being held captive by Hamas. Eli Sharabi, a husband and father, sat before us to recount the horrific murder of his wife and two teenage daughters as he was captured and held hostage for 491 days by the listed terrorist organisation Hamas. During this time, Eli and other hostages were starved while Hamas seized the aid meant to keep captives and civilians alive. His kibbutz lost over 100 people in a single day. He was released on 8 February this year, only because he was over the age of 50. Many of his friends remain underground. He said something none of us will forget: 'I can't let myself cry all day. I don't think I have that privilege.' That testimony should sober every member of this House.”
“If you're a young family saving a spare bedroom for a future child, this government's coming after you. If you're a grandparent with spare rooms for the grandkids to visit, this government is coming after you. This is how far they've sunk—a government punishing Australians for their own failures and $43 billion wasted with fewer homes to show for it. They know they won't meet their housing targets, so they're coming after your household—a tax on the room your kids grew up in, a tax on the roof over your head or a tax on the home you worked for your lifetime to build. The government must rule out this shocking spare room tax.”
“This government is failing Australians on housing. Rather than fixing what's holding builders back, the government abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission, piled on hundreds of new laws and thousands of regulations and are standing by while their mates at the CFMEU drive up costs. This is a prime minister who swore there would be no new taxes, yet all he has delivered are new taxes. Labor's latest idea is to come after your family home with a spare room tax. Instead of building more homes to fix the housing crisis, Labor wants to tax ones we already have—no new supply, no new solutions, just another desperate grab at your household. This thought bubble was thrown around at their three-day economic roundtable as a bid to fix the housing crisis, and now Labor have refused to rule it out.”
“It's events like these that remind me what matters most on the Gold Coast: people pitching in, creating opportunities and looking out for each other. In this parliament, our responsibility is to match that effort, to support volunteers, to remove the barriers that hold back productivity and to keep investing in the life of our community. The next century doesn't need more bureaucracy. It demands stronger communities, greater innovation and higher productivity, with service surpassing that of the last.”
“This is a sentiment I hear consistently from my community, from small businesses dealing with rising costs and red tape, from tradies in the building industry with skill shortages and mounting compliance costs and from community groups who want to do more but are held back by endless paperwork. Labor's addiction to red tape is stifling our potential instead of fostering innovation and supporting growth. This Labor government is tying down the very people and industries that drive our prosperity. But the strength of our community is found not only on our beaches, in our businesses and at our campuses but also in the everyday places where people come together. This weekend at the Gold Coast Show I saw firsthand the talent, the camaraderie and the joy of our community.”
“Just as our surf lifesavers give their time and energy to protect the community, our local educators and researchers are working tirelessly to prepare the next generation, but too often their efforts are made harder by government. I recently met with the Vice-Chancellor Tyrone Carlin from Southern Cross University, which is in my electorate, to discuss the challenges facing higher education in Australia. Professor Carlin's message was clear: universities are being weighed down by red tape at the very time we should be empowering them to grow, innovate and compete. This is not just a university problem; it's a national problem. When we make it harder for our institutions to attract students, researchers and investment, we put Australia at risk of falling further behind in skills, technology and discovery.”